Iraqi security officials say they have recaptured two more of the 16
al-Qaida members who escaped from a jail in central Iraq a few days ago.

Police say at least eight of the inmates have now been recaptured. Five were detained on Friday and one on Thursday.

The
prisoners broke out Wednesday night from a Tikrit jail, after
apparently climbing through a small window in a bathroom. Five of the
escapees had been sentenced to death.

Following the escape,
Iraqi authorities launched a massive search. U.S. military officials
say they provided aerial surveillance and search dogs to assist in the
manhunt in Tikrit and surrounding areas.

Police closed roads and ordered extra surveillance at Iraq's border with Syria as part of the search.

After
the escape, provincial authorities fired the head of a local
anti-terrorism department Colonel Mohammed Salih Jbara. Several prison
guards were detained for questioning.